Meaning & use
moulded or molded
Last updated
Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitiveBritish
Shaped or formed something by pressing it into a container or using your hands (British spelling).
Grammar: Can take an object: 'She moulded the clay.' Or no object with a preposition: 'The clay moulded easily.'
Patterns
- mould something into something
- mould something from something
- mould to something
The artist moulded the clay into a small bird.
These figures were moulded from plastic.
The children moulded the dough with their hands.
verbtransitive or intransitiveAmerican
Shaped or formed something by pressing it into a container or using your hands (American spelling).
Grammar: Same grammar as 'moulded'; the only difference is the spelling without 'u'.
Patterns
- mold something into something
- mold something from something
- mold to something
She molded the clay into a cup.
The parts are molded from recycled plastic.
He molded the dough into small balls.
verbtransitiveBritishfigurative
Influenced or developed someone's character or ideas over time (British spelling).
Grammar: Often used in the passive: 'His character was moulded by his teachers.'
Patterns
- mould someone into something
- be moulded by something
Her early experiences moulded her into a confident leader.
The school aims to mould students into responsible adults.
His opinions were moulded by years of travel.
Word forms
| base form | mould (British) / mold (American) |
|---|---|
| third person singular | moulds / molds |
| past tense | moulded / molded |
| past participle | moulded / molded |
| -ing form | moulding / molding |
Common combinations
- moulded into shape
- The metal is heated and moulded into shape.
- moulded from clay
- The pot was moulded from local clay.
- moulded by hand
- Each piece is moulded by hand.
- moulded plastic
- The chairs are made of moulded plastic.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
Commonly confused: moulded or molded or molded?
moulded or molded vs molded
The American spelling; 'moulded' is British. Both mean the same.
Practice
In British English, the past tense of 'mould' is ___.
Choose one answer.
British spelling keeps the 'u': 'moulded'. 'Molded' is American, 'moulding' is the -ing form, and 'molds' is the third person singular American form.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “moulded or molded”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.